A Cross-Sectional Legal Epidemiology Study of Associations Between State-Level Labor Laws (LLEI) and Workplace Sanitation and Training Indicators Among Hispanic US Crop Workers Using the National Agricultural Workers Survey (NAWS)

OBJECTIVE: Agricultural workers are at a disproportionate risk of work-related injuries and illnesses. We examined how labor laws are associated with agricultural workers' work environments. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study of Hispanic/Latine participants in the National Agricultural Workers Survey to assess the association between a Labor Law Equity Index (LLEI), which summarizes agricultural worker inclusion or exclusion in workers' compensation, minimum wage, and overtime pay laws across US states, and workplace conditions. RESULTS: Higher LLEI scores were associated with an increased odds of employer provision of water (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.18, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.05 to 1.33), toilet (aOR = 1.50, 95% CI: 1.34 to 1.67), hand-washing station (aOR = 1.40, 95% CI: 1.26 to 1.56), and pesticide training (aOR = 1.19, 95% CI: 1.10 to 1.29). CONCLUSION: Our results highlight policy-related opportunities to improve workplace water access, sanitation, and training implementation to better support agricultural worker health.